Effects of probiotic Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 on halitosis and oral health: an open-label pilot trial.

2010-08
Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics 110(2)
- Tomoyuki Iwamoto
- Nao Suzuki
- Kazunari Tanabe
- Toru Takeshita
- Takao Hirofuji

PubMed: 20659698
DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2010.03.032

Study Design

Type: Clinical Trial
Sample size: n = 20
Population: 20 patients with genuine halitosis
Methods: 2.0 x 10^9 Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 and xylitol in tablet form daily
Blinding: Open-label
Duration: 4 weeks
Funding: Unclear

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether oral administration of lactobacilli alters the degree of halitosis and clinical conditions associated with halitosis.

Study design

Twenty patients with genuine halitosis were given 2.0 x 10(9)Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 and xylitol in tablet form daily. Oral malodor and clinical parameters were evaluated at the same time of day for each patient after 2 and 4 weeks.

Results

All 20 patients were positive for L. salivarius DNA in their saliva at 2 weeks, although 12 patients were negative for this organism at baseline. Oral malodor parameters significantly decreased at 2 weeks in the subjects with physiologic halitosis. The scores of an organoleptic test and bleeding on probing significantly decreased at 4 weeks in the subjects with oral pathologic halitosis.

Conclusions

Oral administration of probiotic lactobacilli primarily improved physiologic halitosis and also showed beneficial effects on bleeding on probing from the periodontal pocket.